Final answer:
The theory of plate tectonics gained widespread acceptance in the scientific community during the 1960s after initial skepticism and thanks to subsequent research and evidence.
Step-by-step explanation:
The theory of plate tectonics became widely accepted by the scientific community in the 1960s. Initially introduced by Alfred Wegener as the hypothesis of continental drift in 1915, it didn't gain traction until further evidence and mechanisms, such as sea-floor spreading proposed by Harry Hess, supported the movement of continents. Throughout the mid-20th century, advances in geology, oceanography, and geophysics shed light on how tectonic plates move due to mantle convection, leading to widespread acceptance of Wegener's once controversial idea.